 J. Neils Thompson Professor Thompson was a member of the civil engineering faculty at UT for more than 50 years and a former president of the National Collegiate Athletic Association. During the late1940s, Professor Thompson foresaw the limited growth of research on campus due to space constraints. In his search for space, he negotiated a 20-year lease for an abandoned magnesium plant eight miles north of campus. The 400-acre site first became known as the Off-Campus Research Facility, then the Balcones Research Center before it was renamed in his honor. Professor Thompson was a native Texan who played football for Texas when he entered The University in 1930. He played the historic 1934 game against Notre Dame in which Texas defeated the highly favored Fighting Irish 7 to 6, gaining national prominence for the Southwest Conference. Professor Thompson received his Bachelor of Science in civil engineering in 1935, the last engineering class to graduate under the legendary Dean T. U. Taylor. At commencement, Dean Taylor - who did not believe in the concept of graduation for honors for his college - paid Thompson a remarkable compliment, lauding him for his active participation in varsity football and his strong A average. Professor Thompson’s lifelong dedication to the concept of “student-athlete” is said to be based on his personal experience and example. Throughout his five decades on the UT faculty, Thompson taught classes and supervised an active research program in the fields of materials, experimental mechanics, structures, sonic boom research and housing research. In addition, he authored or co-authored over 200 technical publications, books and research in his research areas, and received widespread recognition national and internationally. |
The Recreation Area in the J. Neils Thompson Commons Building at the Pickle Research Campus |
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| Located at
the J.J. Pickle Research Campus, the Recreation Area is
located in the J. Neils Thompson Commons Building named
for the co-founder of the research facility. Recreational
Sports facilities include a gymnasium for volleyball,
basketball or aerobics, a weight training/conditioning
room, table tennis and an outdoor soccer field. J. Neils Thompson was a member of the civil
engineering faculty at The University for 50 years, and
served as director of the Research Facility from 1946 to
1977. He also served as chairman of the UT Austin’s
Men’s Athletics Council, president of the Southwest
Athletic Conference and president of the National
Collegiate Athletic Association. |